The Educational Psychology Service is delighted to share the dates of our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training for 2025 to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their learners from within their own resources. 

What is ELSA?

ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by Educational Psychologists (EPs) who apply their professional knowledge of children and young people’s social and emotional development to areas of need often experienced by learners in our schools. ELSAs receive ongoing professional supervision from EPs to help maintain high quality in the support and intervention undertaken by ELSAs, thereby helping to ensure safe practice for ELSAs and children and young people alike. 

ELSAs deliver short-term purposeful intervention in a 1:1 or small group situation to enable children and young people to learn specific new skills and strategies which support their emotional wellbeing. ELSAs work to specific programme aims that are realistic and can be achieved within a school term. For further information on the ELSA role, please visit www.ELSAnetwork.org 

Details of ELSA training in 2025 and booking information

ELSA training combines five initial training days, followed by half-termly reflective group supervision. 

The ELSA training days will be delivered in person at Kedleston Road Training and Development Centre. The training will run over five days throughout the Spring 2025 term:

  • Day 1 – Wednesday 15th January; 9:30-15:30             
  • Day 2 – Wednesday 29th January; 9:30-15:30             
  • Day 3 – Wednesday 12th February; 9:30-15:30
  • Day 4 – Wednesday 5th March; 9:30-15:30
  • Day 5 – Wednesday 26th March; 9:30-15:30

The cost of the training is £700 and includes the first year of reflective supervision and a key ELSA text. 

For more information or to book a place on this training, please email stepsadmin@derby.gov.uk

Please note that ELSA training places are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. A minimum of eight delegates (across the locality) are required for the ELSA training course to run. In the unlikely event that less than eight delegates book places on this training, the training costs will be refunded in full. 

For more information contact Alice McIntosh at Alice.mcintosh@derby.gov.uk